The City of Foley is demonstrating how strategic planning and fiscal responsibility can deliver high-quality municipal services without overburdening taxpayers. On Thursday, Nov. 5, city leaders will formally dedicate the new Foley Activity Center at 315 E. Jessamine Ave., marking the successful transformation of the former National Guard armory into a vibrant, multi-purpose community facility.
Rather than incurring heavy costs to purchase new land and construct a facility from scratch, Foley capitalized on a mutually beneficial property exchange. The city traded 30 acres of municipal property near the Foley Beach Express to allow the National Guard to construct a modern 30,540-square-foot armory, acquiring the historic armory property located behind City Hall in return.
By adaptively reusing the existing 16,000-square-foot building at a renovation cost of $1.97 million—designed by Paul Carpenter Davis Architecture and built by contractor Del-Con LLC—Foley significantly reduced capital expenditures while modernizing downtown municipal infrastructure.
The upgraded center balances operational efficiency with expanded public recreational offerings, providing versatile amenities for residents of all ages:
- Active Recreation: A new indoor gymnasium that can be configured for four pickleball courts, a basketball court, or a volleyball court.
- Inclusive & Special Programming: A dedicated sensory room for special-needs programming, classroom space for recreational and senior activities, and full ADA-compliant restroom upgrades.
- Municipal Consolidation: Integrated office spaces housing the Parks and Recreation Department, Leisure Services administration, and the Communications Department to streamline operations.
- Preservation: A climate-controlled space dedicated to storing museum archives.
Beyond fiscal prudence, the project preserves local history. The building served as the National Guard armory from 1969 to 2023 and was originally named after Sgt. William L. Smith, a Foley High School alumnus killed in action during the Korean War in 1951. At the dedication ceremony, Mayor Ralph Hellmich will present the key to the city to Sgt. Smith’s family, and a plaque will be unveiled commemorating 100 years of National Guard service in Foley.
By combining asset optimization, multi-functional design, and historical preservation, the Foley Activity Center stands as a model for fiscal efficiency and community investment.
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